Modular display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A modular display apparatus comprising a backer board and at least one display tray attached to the backer board to package and display products. The backer board includes a plurality of slots formed therein. At least one display tray is configured to removably attach to the backer board. The least one display tray comprises a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, and a pair of back walls which are all integrally attached with one another to form an interior space to receive products therein. Each of the pair of the back wall includes a locking tab comprises a wedged-shaped protrusion releasably inserted into one of the plurality of slots formed in the backer board.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to display systems and more particularly, to a modular display apparatus comprises a backer board and a display tray attached thereto to shelf products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various designs and techniques are known for providing display systems. One disadvantage of the known display systems has been complicated assembly and disassembly constructions of the display systems. Another disadvantage is the display systems occupy huge spaces in a retail store and the cost of handling and transporting the display systems is higher than desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular display apparatus having a backer board and at least one support tray attached thereto to receive products. The modular display product may be used as a pre-packaged modular display apparatus to be used in retail stores.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to a display system comprises a backer board having a plurality of slots formed therein. At least one display tray having at least one locking tab is configured to be attached to the backer board. The locking tab comprises a wedged-shaped protrusion inserted into one of the plurality of slots.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a packaged display system comprising a backer board having front and rear side. A pair of laterally aligned column of slots is spaced apart at various longitudinal locations on the rear side of the backer board. At least one display tray having at least one locking tab is removably attached to the slots to permit the at least one display tray to be attached at varying heights. The locking tab comprises a wedged-shaped protrusion inserted into one of the slots.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a backer board comprising four generally rectangular panels defined by three substantially parallel longitudinal fold lines. Three of the four panels each comprises a pair of laterally aligned column of opening that are spaced apart at various longitudinal locations of each of the three panels wherein the pair of laterally aligned column of openings form a plurality of slots configured to receive a display tray having at least one locking tab comprising a wedged-shaped protrusion inserted into one of the plurality of slots when the four panels are in folded position.

Yet a further aspect of the present invention relates to a tray comprising a bottom wall, a pair of side walls extended outwardly from lateral opposite ends the bottom wall and are integrally attached to the bottom wall along first and second hinges. A pair of back walls each having a pair locking tabs are integrally attached to the side wall along third and fourth hinges wherein the locking tab is configured to be attached to a backer board. The backer board comprises four generally rectangular panels defined by three substantially parallel longitudinal fold lines. Three of the four panels each comprises a pair of laterally aligned column of opening that are spaced apart at various longitudinal locations of each of the three panels wherein the pair of laterally aligned column of openings form a plurality of slots adapted to be engaged with the pair locking tabs. A front wall having a pocket formed therein wherein the pocket is used to display graphic or printing material related to products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular display apparatus having display trays attached to a backer board in accordance to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the modular display apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one of the three display trays shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view in elevation of the display tray shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view in elevation of the display tray shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a portion of FIG. 2, illustrating the manner in which a locking tab is inserted into a slot on the rear side of the backer board;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a removable insert used in the display tray to securely hold products;

FIG. 8A is a plan view of a blank used to construct the backer board in accordance to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 8B-8D are the plan views of the blank in FIG. 8A, illustrating the manner in which the blank is folded to form the backer board in accordance to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respective front and rear perspective views of a modular display apparatus 10 having display trays 12 attached to a backer board 14 in accordance to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As an illustrative example, three display trays 12 are shown in FIG. 1, but one ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that it is within the scope of the present invention to use any number of display trays 12, provided that the backer board 14 is sized and dimensioned accordingly. The size and dimension of the backer board 14 corresponds to the number of display trays 12 mounted onto the backer board 12. The display tray 12 is preferably made from a transparent plastic material, but not limited to, which provides greater visibility of products supported by the display tray 12. The backer board 14 is constructed from a blank 70 (shown in FIG. 8A) which is scored and cut to define a series of foldably interconnected panels as hereinafter described. The backer board 14 includes a hand hole opening 16 used to remove the modular display apparatus 10 from a shipping case and to assist in retail assembly and positioning. The backer board 14 includes a front side 15 a and a back side 15 b in which the rear side 15 b has a pair of column of slots 18 spaced apart laterally at various longitudinal locations to permit the display tray 12 to be attached at varying heights. With this configuration, the display tray 12 can be quickly attached to the backer board 14 with very little effort. The rear side 15 b also includes at least a pair of slots 19 used to receive a respective pair of clips 21 which is used to hang the modular display apparatus 10 over a mounting rail, wire fixture or other fasteners in a retail store. The display tray 12 comprises a generally rectangular-shaped bottom wall 20, a pair of generally triangularly-shaped side walls 22 a, 22 b, and a pair of generally P-shaped back walls 24 a, 24 b wherein all incorporate with one another to form an interior space 13. Each of the P-shaped back walls 24 a, 24 b includes a locking tab 26, as best shown in FIG. 6, which is used to releasbly attached the display tray 12 to the backer board via slots 18. The display tray 12 includes a front wall 28 having a pocket 29 formed therein as best depicted in FIG. 5. The pocket 29 is used to carry graphic or printing material related to the products displayed by the modular display apparatus 10.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one of the three display trays 12 shown in FIG. 1. The bottom wall 20 includes steps 32, 34, 36, and 38 that are spaced apart by channels 42, 44, 46. For example, the steps 32, 34 are spaced apart by the channel 42, the steps 34, 36 are spaced apart by the channel 44, and the steps 36, 38 are spaced apart by the channel 46. The steps 32, 34, 36 are slightly tilted downwardly from the front wall 28 toward the backer board 14 as best depicted in FIG. 5. The steps 32, 34, 36 are tilted downwardly so that the products or articles supported by the display tray 12 are tipped back toward the backer board 14. This configuration permits the products to be securely held in the display tray 12. In addition, the channels 42, 44, 46 may be used to receive dividers (not shown) so that products can be arranged therein, accordingly. The triangularly-shaped side wall 22 a, 22 b are extended outwardly from lateral opposite ends of the bottom wall 20 and are integrally attached to the bottom wall 20 along respective first and second hinges 48 a, 48 b. The P-shaped back walls 24 a, 24 b are integrally attached to the triangularly-shaped side walls 22 a, 22 b along respective third and fourth hinges 50 a, 50 b.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 4-6, the first and second hinges 48 a, 48 b allow the triangularly-shaped side wall 22 a, 22 b to be folded up substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 20, and the third and fourth hinges 50 a, 50 b allow the bottom wall 20 to be folded around the edges of the backer board 14 and against the rear side 15 b of the backer board 14, so that the locking tabs 26 can be inserted into a respective slots 18 in the rear side 15 b of the backer board 14. This configuration allows the display tray 12 to transfer the majority of the load into the back bottom of the display tray 12, pushing its load against the backer board 14. Each of the locking tab 26 comprises a wedged-shaped protrusion 49 having a flat edge 51 that is inserted into the slot 18 and engaged with the backer board 14 so that the backer board 14 prevents the locking tab 26 inadvertently released from the slot 18. Each of the triangularly-shaped side wall 22 a, 22 b includes a respective pair of guides 52 a, 54 a and 52 b, 54 b. The guides 52 a and 54 a are integrally formed within the side wall 22 a and the guides 52 b and 54 b are integrally formed within the side wall 22 b. The guides 54 a, 54 b are used to ensure that the backer board 14 is properly aligned between the respective side walls 22 a, 22 b and the P-shaped back walls 24 a, 24 b as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The guides 52 a, 52 b are used to securely hold down an insert 60 as will be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 7.

The insert 60 includes a plurality of holders 62 formed to fit varieties of products therein. In the illustrative example of FIG. 7, there is shown six holders 62 spaced apart from one another wherein each having generally circular shape. However, one ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that it is within the scope of the present invention to use any number of holders 62 with different shapes provided that the insert 60 is sized and shaped which corresponds to the display tray 12. The insert 60 includes a notch 64 and a cut out 66 formed on respective lateral end edges of the insert 60. The notch 64 and the cut out 66 are engaged with the respective guides 52 a and 52 b so that the insert 60 is securely fit in the interior space 13 of the display tray 12.

The display tray 12 and the insert 60 are preferably made from transparent plastic using vacuum forming. Vacuum forming, commonly known as Vacuforming, is a simplified version of thermoforming, whereby a sheet of plastic is heated to a forming temperature, stretched onto or into a single-surface mold, and half against the mold by applying vacuum between the mold surface and the sheet. It is well within the scope of this invention to use any suitable material well known or later developed in the art such as, for example, wood, foil or the like.

FIG. 8A is a top view of the blank 70 used to construct the backer board 14. The blank 70 is divided into four panels 72, 74, 76, and 78 by three substantially parallel longitudinal fold lines 80, 82, 84. Panels 72, 74, and 76 are substantially similar to one another. It should be noted that the number of panels illustrated in FIG. 8A is strictly exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the number of panels in the modular display apparatus 10. Panels 78, 74 form the respective front and rear sides 15 a, 15 b of the backer board 14, when the blank 70 is in the folded position. Each of the Panels 72, 76 includes a respective pair of column of openings 88 a, 88 b formed on their respective longitudinal edges. Similarly, panel 74 includes a pair of column of openings 92 formed on longitudinal edges thereof. In the exemplary embodiment, the openings 88 a, 88 b are rectangular in shape, but one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the opening 88 a, 88 b may be semi-rectangular, triangular, circular or the like. It should be noted that the number of openings 88 a, 88 b illustrated in FIG. 8A is strictly exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the number of openings 88 a, 88 b in the blank 70.

The openings 92 on the panel 74 are slightly different in shape than the openings 88 a, 88 b formed on the panels 72, 76. Each of panels 72, 74, 76 includes a respective pair of rectangular openings 90 a, 90 b, and 94 which are formed in the central portion of the panels 72, 74, and 76. When the blank 70 is in the folded position, the openings 90 a, 90 b, and 94 are superimposed on one another to form the slot 19 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 8D. Similarly, when the blank 70 is in the folded position, the openings 88 a, 88 b, and 92 are superimposed on one another to form the slot 18 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 8D. The rectangular opening 90 a, 90 b are larger in size than the rectangular openings 94 so that the clips 21 are easily inserted into the slot 19 and securely attached to the backer board 14 as described in detail hereinbefore. Similarly, the openings 92 are slightly different than the rectangular 88 a, 88 b so that a user may easily insert the locking tab 26 into the slot 18. Two Openings 83 a, 83 b are formed on the respective panels 72, 74 such that when the blank 70 is in folded position, the openings 83 a, 83 b form the hanger opening 16 as best depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 8D.

FIGS. 8B-8D illustrate the steps of constructing the blank 70 to form the backer board 14 as described hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. Manual set-up of the backer board 14 is easily accomplished. First, as shown in FIG. 8A, the panel 72 is folded inwardly or toward the panel 74 (as shown in FIG. 8B) at the respective fold line 80.

Next, in FIG. 8B, the panel 76 is folded inwardly or toward the panel 78 (as shown in FIG. 8C) at the respective fold line 84. While the blank 70 is in a flat position, the longitudinal edges of panels 72 and 76 are glued and then folded onto one another at respective fold line 82. Finally, the locking tabs 26 are insert into slots 18 and are intimately engaged thereon. The locking tabs 26 are concealed between the panels 72, 74 at their respective slot 18.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A display system comprising: a backer board having a plurality of slots formed therein; and at least one display tray having at least one locking tab configured to be attached to the backer board, the locking tab comprises a wedged-shaped protrusion inserted into one of the plurality of slots.
 2. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the backer board includes front and rear sides wherein the plurality of slots formed on the rear side of the backer board.
 3. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of slots includes a pair of laterally aligned column of slots that are spaced apart at various longitudinal locations to permit the at least one display tray to be attached at varying heights.
 4. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the backer board constructed from a blank having four generally rectangular panels defined by three substantially parallel longitudinal fold lines wherein two of the four rectangular panels are substantially similar to each other.
 5. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one display tray comprises a bottom wall having a pair of side walls extended outwardly from lateral opposite ends the bottom wall and are integrally attached to the bottom wall along first and second hinges, and a pair of back walls each having a pair of the at least one locking tabs integrally attached thereto along third and fourth hinges and wherein the bottom wall, the side walls, and the back walls all incorporate with one another to form an interior space.
 6. The display apparatus of claim 5 wherein bottom wall further comprising a plurality of steps spaced apart by a plurality of channels wherein the plurality of steps are slightly tilted downwardly toward the back walls so that products or articles supported by the at least display tray is tipped back toward the backer board.
 7. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one display tray includes three display trays mounted onto the backer board and wherein each of the display trays has two locking tabs releasbly attached to the rear side of the backer board.
 8. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wedged-shaped protrusion of the least one locking tab includes a flat edge engaged with one of the plurality of slots so that the backer board prevents the locking tab inadvertently released from the one of the plurality of slots.
 9. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one display tray further comprising a front wall having a pocket formed therein wherein the pocket is used to display graphic or printing material related to products.
 10. The display apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an insert having a plurality of holders formed therein and wherein the insert is configured to be fitted into the interior space of the display tray.
 11. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the backer board further comprises a pair of slots formed in a central portion thereof to receive a respective pair of clips used to hang the modular display apparatus over a wire fixture or other fastener.
 12. A packaged display system comprising: a backer board having front and rear side, a pair of laterally aligned column of slots are spaced apart at various longitudinal locations on the rear side of the backer board; and at least one display tray having at least one locking tab being removably attached to the slots to permit the at least one display tray to be attached at varying heights, the locking tab comprises a wedged-shaped protrusion inserted into one of the slots.
 13. A backer board comprising four generally rectangular panels defined by three substantially parallel longitudinal fold lines, three of the four panels each comprises a pair of laterally aligned column of opening that are spaced apart at various longitudinal locations of each of the three panels wherein the pair of laterally aligned column of openings form a plurality of slots configured to receive a display tray having at least one locking tab comprising a wedged-shaped protrusion inserted into one of the plurality of slots when the four panels are in folded position.
 14. A tray comprising: a bottom wall; a pair of side walls extended outwardly from lateral opposite ends the bottom wall and are integrally attached to the bottom wall along first and second hinges; a pair of back walls each having a pair locking tabs integrally attached to the side wall along third and fourth hinges wherein the locking tab being configured to be attached to a backer board, the backer board comprises four generally rectangular panels defined by three substantially parallel longitudinal fold lines, three of the four panels each comprises a pair of laterally aligned column of opening that are spaced apart at various longitudinal locations of each of the three panels wherein the pair of laterally aligned column of openings form a plurality of slots adapted to be engaged with the pair locking tabs; and a front wall having a pocket formed therein wherein the pocket is used to display graphic or printing material related to products. 